BICOM

Israel’s first moon mission launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 missile from Cape Canaveral in Florida early this morning.

The spacecraft, called Beresheet–Genesis, was developed by the SpaceIL non-profit organisation in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries, is scheduled to land on the moon on the 11 April. After successfully disengaging from the launch missile, the spacecraft went into orbit around the Earth at a velocity of 36,000 km per hour. Throughout the mission the spacecraft will transmit data to the control room in Israel.

If the landing is successful, Israel will be only the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon.

Earlier this week, the president of SpaceIL, Morris Kahn said: “We have been on this journey for eight years and it will be completed in two months, with the landing on the moon. We are making history and we are proud to be part of a group that has dreamed and realised the dream that many countries have had but only three have fulfilled.”

Kahn donated $40m of the $100m cost of the spacecraft and said Beresheet–Genesis was presented as a gift to President Reuven Rivlin.

The mission aims to measure the moon’s magnetic field, which astronomers still don’t fully understand. Once on the moon, Beresheet–Genesis will take a selfie and a picture of the Israeli flag from the lunar surface.

Before the launch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This evening, I would like, first of all, to honour the memories of Ilan, Rona and Asaf Ramon.  This attests to Israeli heroism. A marvellous thing is happening here. While this is a great step for Israel, it is a huge step for Israeli technology.”

He added: “Several hours ago I said that the State of Israel is a rising global power, to the moon. This is a great achievement and it is very moving. I asked that a Hebrew bible, an Israeli flag and the writing ‘Am Yisrael Chai‘ [the People of Israel Live] be taken to the moon. They told me ‘It’s OK. It has already been taken care of.’ This is something that it was possible only to dream about.”

Beresheet–Genesis grew out of the Google Lunar XPRIZE, which offered financial incentives in 2007 to any non-government-funded team that could pull off a moon landing. Until now, only China, Russia and the US have developed the technology necessary for a soft landing on the moon.